The only story I can tell you about Suzuki-roshi is of the
very first time I came to SFZC, maybe 1970. I stayed for dinner, and
wanting to see what a real Zen Master was like, went and took the
chair next to Suzuki-roshi at dinner. I was amazed to see him sitting on
his chair in the dining room in full lotus. I'm a fast eater, so I
was chowing down, and watching him out of the corner of my eye, when
he suddenly finished his rather large meal and got up and bowed and
walked away. I was only half finished with mine. Then I realized that
while I was spending time watching him, he had been totally
concentrated on eating. This was my very first lesson in Real Zen, as
opposed to my reading.